Helen Lavretsky

Helen Lavretsky, MD, MS, is a professor in-residence in the department of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences, the Semel scholar in integrative mental health, and the director of late life mood, stress, and wellness research program in the Integrative Mental Health program at the Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. She conducts research in the biomarkers of resilience and response to mind-body interventions in older adults with mood and cognitive disorders. She received the 2001–2007 and 2010–2015 career development awards from NIMH; and 2016–2022 from the NCCIH, and other prestigious research awards. Her current research includes the NCCIH-funded study of complementary use of tai chi to improve antidepressant response in older adults, and the ARPF-funded Kundalini Yoga study in women over 50 with cardiovascular risk factors and memory complains among others. She is board certified in the Holistic and Integrative medicine.